Rarely does a day pass without controversy in Spanish football, and on Friday Osasuna took the decision to contest the result of their 3-0 defeat to Barcelona. Los Rojillo have filed an official complaint to the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), alleging that Inigo Martinez, who started and played the full match, was ineligible to play.
Their assertion hinges on a FIFA regulation that states that players who are injured and miss international games are not permitted to play for their club sides in the five days subsequent to the last game for their nation in that international window. Martinez was originally called up by Spain, but was then released after sustaining an injury during Barcelona’s win over Atletico Madrid. The Osasuna clash came just four days after Spain beat the Netherlands on penalties in the Nations League though.
Szczęsny is on the verge of entering Barcelona's history books. He has now gone 17 games unbeaten since his debut, a feat only eight players in the club's history have achieved. If Barça avoid defeat against Girona, Betis, and Atlético Madrid, he will join an elite group of five… pic.twitter.com/psNluiz0LB
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According to Catalunya Radio, via Sport, Barcelona were aware of the potential breach of these regulations before the Osasuna game. They were alerted to the possibility, and thus contacted legal experts in the area, and after consultation, the conclusion was that Barcelona were good to line up with Martinez in their side.
Barcelona’s ‘defence’ relies on a caveat in the article that explains if the Federation agrees with the club in question to release the player, then the regulation is no longer in play. Their are precedents where similar appeals have been rejected too.
That said, Osasuna have differentiated Martinez’s case from the treatment of Bryan Zaragoza, their player, and three under-21 players who released for Barcelona duty: Gerard Martin, Pablo Torre and Fermin Lopez. In the latter case, Spain announced their release, while manager Luis de la Fuente noted Martinez was not present due to injury, and Barcelona also released a medical report on Martinez’s injury, but he was not assessed by the Spanish medical team.
28 per cent possession. Three shots on goal, none on target. Players admitting that they got dominated.
Protesting a match after getting curb stomped like that is not a good look.
And then there’s this:
Players are permitted to play within that period if the football federation in question agrees to release the player with the club. As per Marca, the RFEF have confirmed that Spain agreed to do so, which would appear to get the Blaugrana off the hook.
Osasuna need to look inward on this one. They lost because they played badly, not because Inigo Martinez was on the pitch
Rules are rules, you ignorant monkey.
For more than a decade, Barca just gets away with their own set of rules.
Playing ineligible players? Check.
Registering players despite their debts and losses, and registering after the deadline without issues? Check.
Barca has 1 bil in debt – no issues. Milan, Lille, or literally any other team has 50 mil in debt and they get suspended, fined, demoted, etc..
Winning games by phantom fouls? Check.
La Liga has your back! CHECK!